The happiest people were Meng Jinniu, Bao Dongmei, Zhou Cuiling and the educated youth. They surrounded Meng Tao, asked about her well-being and protected her from being squeezed by others.

Captain Bao, his wife Aunt Yu, and Aunt Yang, Zhou Cuiling's mother, also came. They were very happy to see Meng Tao running back from such a long distance despite her big belly, and her rosy complexion and good spirits, indicating that she was in very good health. However, they could not help but complain that she should not run around at this time. What if something went wrong on the way? Fortunately, nothing happened. The little worry was soon replaced by the joy of being together. Several aunts and grandmas were busy cleaning up the room and let Meng Tao rest first.

In fact, there is no need to clean up. The room where Meng Tao lives has always been kept the same. Her future sister-in-law Bao Dongmei basically comes to wipe the furniture in the room every three or two days. The quilts and mattresses are also often turned over and dried, and the floor is wiped with a cloth mop. The room is not spotless, but it is very clean. All she needs to do is re-make the bed.

Meng Tao also brought a surprise to Captain Bao: when she was walking outside, she collected a lot of seeds of economic crops from all over the place and stored them in the space. This time she gave them to Captain Bao, asking him to allocate some fields for trial planting after the spring. The seeds blessed by the space will not be bad, and the whole village will benefit from a good harvest.

He also told Captain Bao and Jinniu about the greenhouse cultivation experience he had seen at the Agricultural Science Institute, and suggested that Linshui Village could give it a try, or first build a shed in their own yard for experimentation.

It is now 76 years old. There are reports in the newspapers that several places in other provinces in China have started greenhouse cultivation, growing off-season vegetables and fruits, and have achieved success. This is beneficial to the country and the people. In short, there will be no problem in the name of the collective. Guo Jia will definitely promote it vigorously in the future.

Team leader Bao was holding a large cardboard box of seeds and was grinning from ear to ear: Liu Jianxin had just sent two large bags of economic crop seeds suitable for planting in the mountains and forests, and said that he would come to give technical guidance when he was free. Now they are rich - they have high-quality seedlings, technical support and development direction. More importantly, Zhou Shian was promoted this year and became the second in command of the commune. Even if there is any disturbance, they can give early warning or cover it up, so it won't be a big problem.

Old Bao is in this position as the team leader, so he will do a great job and lead the whole village to live a good life! In the afternoon, with the help of the educated youth, future mother-in-law, Aunt Yang and several other aunts in the village, Meng Jinniu killed chickens and ducks to welcome Meng Tao. Meng Tao brought back wine and vegetables bought in the city. Relatives and friends sat at four or five tables, and the party was lively until the lights were turned on in the evening.

The next day, there were still villagers who came to visit and chat, but there were not many people. After all, each family had their own work to do. Meng Tao had the time to walk around their front and back yards, and the old and old yards with Xiao Wangcai and look around.

All I can say is that Meng Jinniu and his future wife are too hardworking. They have renovated and maintained the courtyards on both sides very well. Meng Tao and the educated youth could not do that when they lived there.

It is the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. Linshui Village has just experienced a light snowfall. It is not yet covered with ice and snow, and the school has not yet been closed for holiday. But in order to spend more time with Meng Tao, Jiang Xiaodong and He Huijuan, who are teachers at the commune middle school, go back to Linshui Village after school in the afternoon. Zhou Cuiling also comes after work. Other educated youth Xu Guoliang, Qian Liang, Qian Xiaoyun, Sun Yutang, Jiang Limei and Jinniu still cook and eat together as before. When everyone comes, they sit around the stove in a group, chatting and laughing. At night, the Meng family courtyard has once again returned to its former joy and liveliness.

Zhou Cuiling and Zhang Guoqing's wedding date was set for the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. Meng Tao might not be able to stay until then as she had to return to Beijing for the New Year, so she gave the gift to Zhou Cuiling in advance, and then distributed gifts to everyone. The gifts were the ones bought in Gangcheng, and each relative and friend received one. Jinniu and Dongmei got a few extra ones, and everyone was happy and excited again.

At night, Zhou Cuiling and Meng Tao rested together, and as always, they had endless topics to talk about before going to bed.

Talking about Meng Tao's married life, she was glad that she had Grandma Xu and her aunt, so she wouldn't be worried about no one to help take care of and guide her when she had children. Zhou Cuiling couldn't help sighing as she spoke. Meng Tao asked, "You're almost a bride, why are you sighing? Are you still dissatisfied with Zhang Guoqing? If you are, just say it quickly, and it will be resolved. Don't be emotional, or it will not be beautiful."

Zhou Cuiling: "I'm not dissatisfied with him. Both families are ready. I just... maybe I'm too sensitive? I always have that feeling. Tsk! I mentioned it to my mom and she scolded me. She said that since the wedding is coming up soon, I can't have any wild thoughts or make trouble. She also forbids me to talk nonsense in front of Zhang Guoqing."

"Then tell me now."

"I feel like Zhang Guoqing's mother, my future mother-in-law, doesn't seem to like me."

"You just realized it? It's not just like that, it's true. Your future mother-in-law doesn't treat you as her own daughter-in-law."

"Ah? You, you think so too?"

"Be confident, your feelings won't deceive you."

In fact, as early as April and May, before Meng Tao left Linshui Village, she heard Zhou Cuiling complain that Zhang Guoqing's cousins ​​always took away the things Zhang Guoqing gave her and scrambled to take her job. Zhou Cuiling's future mother-in-law acquiesced to these behaviors and even came forward to help persuade Zhou Cuiling. Meng Tao felt something was wrong at the time, but did not say much. After all, they would be the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the future, and if she said anything, it would be suspected of sowing discord.

Now that Zhou Cuiling has experienced it herself, we can discuss it.

Zhou Cuiling was very confused: "Why do you think this is? Zhang Guoqing and I were engaged since childhood. Since I was a child, Guoqing's mother has always treated me very well. During the holidays, Zhang Guoqing came to my house and she prepared everything for him. My mother always praised her for being generous and polite. She was also very straightforward when our two families interacted with each other. Her smile was always sincere and not fake, which shows that she did not object to this marriage."

Meng Tao said, "She must have been really satisfied with this marriage before, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to a child marriage, but people change. Maybe she was influenced by something outside? For example, what about her family? Look, the ones who want to take your things and replace your job are your cousins ​​from your uncle or aunt's family. Why don't the Zhang cousins ​​fight for these? Think about it carefully, when did your future mother-in-law start to show dissatisfaction with you?"

Zhou Cuiling: “…”

After a long while, she seemed to have figured it out, as if something had clicked in her head: "Yes, that's just what you said! The uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters of the Zhang family are all very kind, but the relatives from Guoqing's grandmother's side always feel wrong! Every time I go to the Zhang family, if Guoqing's uncles and aunts are there, Guoqing's mother is particularly cold to me."

"Which uncle or aunt's house did you and Zhang Guoqing visit? Did you offend any of them accidentally?"

"I haven't really married yet. During the holidays, I only visit his Zhang family. I don't go to other relatives' homes. I don't visit his grandmother's relatives either. Only when they come to the Zhang family, we will see each other from time to time.

But I am sure I have not offended anyone. I have done them very well. You know, I even gave up my place in the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University to his cousin who wanted to commit suicide because of a broken heart. "

"I remember that they wanted to take over your job. Is this asking for more? Or was it the Zhang family who originally found your position at the grain station?"

"Of course not! The university place and the grain station position are all due to my dad's connections!"

"But the Zhang family also has people in the commune. What if Zhang Guoqing's grandmother's people think that it was the Zhang family who helped? In this case, they will think that since they are all relatives, why don't they, as uncles, get any help from the Zhang family, while you, who haven't even married into the family, get any benefits? It is said that the uncle is the most important, and when you compare yourself to your future mother-in-law, of course you should put your mother-in-law first."

"If that's the case..."

Zhou Cuiling said angrily, "Guoqing's parents are not unaware of the inside story. Even during Guoqing's time, my dad was running around to find connections to ensure that he would be selected. Guoqing's mom didn't explain it clearly to her family, so they kept misunderstanding me. There's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, I won't be so easy to talk to in the future - if I don't like you, I'll just say it clearly. At worst, we can't get married!"

"There's no need to do this. You and Guoqing have a solid emotional foundation since childhood. Just tell Guoqing what you told me today and have a good talk with him about your feelings. Let him deal with it himself and then get married."

This can also be considered a test. Lovers do not necessarily have to go through tests, but some tests really must be used.

If problems like those between Zhou Cuiling and her future mother-in-law are not completely resolved now, there will be countless conflicts after marriage. If Zhou Cuiling does not want to suffer losses at that time and makes a scene again, she will be branded as an unvirtuous daughter-in-law.

Zhou Cuiling listened to Meng Tao's analysis and completely agreed with it. She originally thought that this was a small matter and she should not cause trouble for Zhang Guoqing. Now she has made up her mind to call Zhang Guoqing tomorrow and ask him to come back or go to the provincial capital herself. The two of them will have a serious face-to-face talk to find out: Do Zhang's parents really like and accept her as their daughter-in-law? !

Marriage between two families does not mean enmity, so the attitude should be correct. She cannot live her life by pleasing others after she gets married.

After making the decision, the two finally slept peacefully.

On the fifth day after Meng Tao returned to the village, there was a light snowfall and strong winds, but Meng Tao was not cold at all in the cold weather. She had been very busy these two days. What was she busy with? It was very helpless to say: busy entertaining guests!

Just because she came back and said she couldn't celebrate the New Year at home and had to rush back to the capital, several families in the village decided to slaughter the New Year pig in advance so that she could eat the slaughtered pig dishes before leaving.

Although Meng Tao refused, they did not listen and lined up. The first was Lin Erhu's family, the second was Captain Bao, the third was Zhou Cuiling's family, the fourth was Wang Tiegen's family... Meng Tao and Xiao Wangcai ate and took things at the same time, and packed up for them after they were done: a hang of pork or pork chops or a pair of pig's feet, at least seven or eight pounds, they had to take them.

Meng Tao didn't know what to say. She was so fed up with eating butchered pig dishes every day that she wanted to run away! (End of this chapter)